Injured Chelsea star targets pre-season return as Real Madrid eye Kai Havertz deal

Chelsea could save millions with striker Armando Broja set to return from his knee injury during pre-season after stepping up his recovery.

The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino gives everyone a clean slate to impress and save their future at the club. With strikers always premium at Chelsea, the club could do with the academy product returning and impressing the new manager.

The 21-year-old hasn't kicked a ball since last December after injuring his knee in a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa.

He was seen when Chelsea wrapped up a troubled season against Newcastle and when asked if he was close to a return he shook his head to suggest he was close to returning.

Broja has one goal in 19 games for Chelsea but impressed on loan at Southampton in 2021-22 and was linked to a move away before Thomas Tuchel gave him a chance to impress in the team.

Chelsea are in the market for a new goalscorer having struggled to get the ball into the net the under Graham Potter and later caretaker manager Frank Lampard.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to leave the club having endured a difficult time since signing. However, there is the issue of Romelu Lukaku who is still a Chelsea player and even though he has hinted he wants to stay at Inter Milan, a return to Chelsea is on the cards and it remains to be seen what happens next.

Real Madrid have also shown interest in Kai Havertz who scored the Champions League-winning goal when Chelsea won it in 2021. The German has not reached his full potential at Stamford Bridge but Chelsea are reportedly ready to do business if the right figures are mentioned.